BOTM, 8/06: A.H. Hirsch 16yo

Admittedly getting a bit of a late start this month, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss A.H. Hirsch 16yo while there is still some to be found out in the market. A product of the Michter's distillery in Pennsylvania and aged in Kentucky, Hirsch bourbon is mingling of the historic Pennsylvania distilling tradition with the tender loving care KY gives all it's bourbon. One of the last truely unique products on the market, A.H. Hirsch deserves a spot in the choosiest of bunkers. Gold wax, blue wax, gold foil or whatever version of Hirsch you have open, let's hear what you think of this nearly extinct relic.

Blue Wax

We needed a bit of a respite after all the excitement generated by Woodford Reserve last month.

I noticed in the WBAYDN thread that someone just finished off a bottle of the blue wax version of Hirsch (which I've never even seen, much less tasted). Let's hope he made notes.

I haven't touched my remaining fraction of a bottle of the gold wax for at least two years. Thanks for giving me an excuse to do so.

While I'm at it, I'll inventory my stash of sale-priced gold foil. Ever since I discovered that it was less to my liking than the gold wax version, I've intended to work down to a single bottle before I return the gold wax version to my informal rotation. My intent, somewhere down the road, is to finish my lone bottle of 20 y/o and the 16 y/o gold wax in the same sitting, this ending my experience of the Hirsch bottlings on the highest possible note.

A excellent example of well-aged, rye-oriented straight whiskey. The proprietary Michter's-brand mashbill (50% corn, 38% rye, remainder barley malt) produced an adroit amalgam of bourbon and rye whiskey courtesy Everett Beam, Bettye Jo Boone's uncle who worked at Michters for many years. In its original form (6 years old), it was a milder version of, say, the modern Pikesville or Wild Turkey ryes.

In its Hirsch guise maturity (never anticipated by the makers in 1974 but who cares), it becomes something quite different yet related. I'd say the link is a certain maple spearmint quality and maybe something earthy from the cool Pennsylvania forests.

The best dram of '74 Michters is, in my humble opinion, a mingling of Hirsch 16 and the original Michter's Original Sour Mash - but for that you have to attend Gazebo.

Unfortunately, Hirsch like many other fine pours, can not be obtained in the Kansas City area (Midwest?)....if they are obtainable, I haven't been able to find them since moving here. I guess I'll wait to next month again and hope I'll have a chance to participate! (lol) Happy drinks to those who can!! H'wood

It´s been excruciatingly hot even here in northern Scandinavia, which has reduced my thirst for whiskey to almost nil, I´m afraid. Happily I´m still on holiday, as my ability to think or act is seriously hampered.

Anyway, I´ve had two bottles of Hirsch, so far. Both have been the gold foil. They´re pretty much the same. Noted differences were that the nose of the second bottle came across as somewhat muted in comparison with the first. I love it, a dry earthy, barrel-ish scent which promises good things to come.

The second bottle compensated for the slightly diminished nose by sporting a longer and more satisfactory finish than the first who was too short and bitter for my taste.

In all, I get lots of honey, some black pepper and coffe from the palate. It´s a very good whiskey for it´s age. Infinitely better than most bourbons I´ve had around this age mark (ORVW 15yo excepted).

One thing that puzzles me is all the noted difference betwenn gold/blue seal/foil. Isn´t this all and the same whiskey kept in a steel container?